Strategy: Gone Shopping

“The most technological thing isn’t necessarily the most futuristic,” states Paul “Strategy” Dickow, musing on food and politics in between pausing to buy sprightly fennel and picking through pyramids of peaches. Dickow is a local music champion–a member of Nudge and Smoke & Mirrors, he also runs the Community Library label and records percolating rhythms and ambient symphonies for Kranky, Audio Dregs, Orac, and Dreck, among others. He’s also a staunch champion of the wild individualism of the Pacific Northwest biome, a quality reflected in everything from the music he makes to the food he buys to the bike he rides. And what better place to talk Cascadian philosophy than a typical Saturday trip to the PSU Farmers’ Market?

Back to the Soil
Food is one of the things that defines a culture. Supposedly, there is a farmers’ market within walking distance of almost everyone in Portland; something like 25 total. Some of them are in co-op or church parking lots, or at colleges; they’re all on different days of the week. They’re a popular place to take kids and out-of-towners. This market used to be more haphazard but it’s gotten more upscale and organized over time. One day food co-ops may even take the place of, or be as important as, regional governments. It’s so cool to see these heritage vegetables. It harkens back to the past before vegetables were bred to be perfect in size and form.

Mondo Shroomage
This stand is super-cool. It’s got all kinds of mushrooms, from shiitake and oyster and morels to ones you’ve never seen. I’m going to get some of these for my dinner tonight. [A conversation ensues with the vendor about how they are best prepared. The vendor recommends them with eggs; another patron suggests sautéing them with garlic and butter.] Some friends of mine are amateur mycologists; they go out in the woods around here and find the craziest mushrooms, and sometimes they bring us some.

Free Cascadia
Myself and David Chandler (Solenoid) are really into this idea of a free Cascadia. We first got into it through discussions with Randy from Orac Records in Seattle. We were starting to release records and nobody felt good about putting “USA” in the artwork text. Cascadia really refers to a biological and geological region, west of the Cascades and east of the coasts, going from Oregon up to southern B.C., but it’s also become symbolic of a separatist movement, of symbolically detaching from any association to empire.

Ecotopia
There’s a lot of regional science fiction pertaining to Cascadia and this whole Northwest region, mostly inspired by Ernest Callenbach’s [1975 novel] Ecotopia. A lot of it is really cheesy, but Octavia Butler, who wrote Parable of the Sower, is essential. One of the few black women in sci-fi, she died at age 58–a really important woman, gone way too soon. She also wrote this weird vampire novel series that’s pretty cool.

Favorite Portland artist:
David Chandler (a.k.a. DJ Brokenwindow/Solenoid/Mr. Pharmacist)

Droids “The Force (Serge Santiago Re-Edit)”

The original version of this track was a spacey amalgamation of disco rock that was released in 1976 by Italo-disco outfit Droids. Serge Santiago got his hands on it and fashioned up this remix, which maintains that extraterrestrial, outerspace-like feel, but adds contemporary electro undertones. Santiago’s been on the rise as a U.K. producer since his days of releasing tracks via Brighton’s Stompa Phunk imprint, and he’s probably best known for his remix work alongside Matt Edwards, under the Radioslave guise. This track is one in a string of re-edits he’s currently at work on.

Droids – The Force (Serge Santiago Maxi Edit)

Pop Levi Never Never Love

Pop Levi performs crass, decadent, counterfeited, empty-calorie pop music that I cannot get out of my head. At first, Never resembles little more than another volume of focus group-driven pop (“Dita Dimoné” is as charming as any High School Musical number ‘bout puppy love). But listen closer and he’s an agile karaoke singer who dresses up as T. Rex for “Semi-Babe” and Power Generation-era Prince on “Everything & Finally.” After awhile, it becomes clear that Levi knows that some of the best pop is indeed tacky and has stitched-on limbs from the corpses of clichés, but it can still bring a speck of cheer to the bitterest of cynics. That’s between you and me.

ANAVAN “BOOM”

Here comes another gem from L.A.’s infamous Smell scene. ANAVAN evolved amidst bands like HEALTH, Mika Miko, and Abe Vigoda, and the group is currently two full-lengths in, with its sophomore album, Cover Story, ready to drop in November. Music-wise, the trio of Bret Berg, Aaron Buckley, and Molly Williams paid special attention to the many capabilities of the synthesizer, and the album sees the band pushing hard, dancefloor-ready tracks, usually of the electro variety. Check “BOOM” for further proof of this. Photo by John Shardt.

ANAVAN – BOOM

Various Hallam Foe

As much an original soundtrack as it is a freshly packaged Domino Records compilation, Hallam Foe lives and dies by that label roster’s troughs and peaks. While many of Domino’s recent memorable releases have come from Glaswegian assassins Franz Ferdinand, here they deliver the titular “Hallam Dandelion Blow,” a defanged acoustic cut that lacks the pop pyrotechnics one might expect. On the other hand, their post-punk predecessors, Orange Juice, open the album with “Blue Boy,” a three-minute Telecaster symphony that stacks up with, if not eclipses, some of the band’s best tracks. While Junior Boys feel oddly out of place here, U.N.P.O.C. reign supreme. So it goes.

Pon Di Wire: Vybz Kartel, Mr. Vegas

Looks like successful singjay Clifford “Mr. Vegas” Smith, currently at the top of international charts with the hit “Mus Come A Road,” will take an extended leave from the music business. Citing disappointment with the entertainment industry and a wish to spend time with his family, Smith told the Star that he plans to retire from music, effective immediately. “It’s just nuff thing,” he told the paper, regarding his decision. “You would have to be in my shoes to understand it. Sometimes you try fi mek other people around you happy, but you unhappy.”

A controversial interview with dub engineer Hopeton “Scientist” Brown has appeared at United Reggae, in which the reggae innovator accuses several record companies of unlawfully selling his recordings. Scientist has been in a protracted legal battle with Greensleeves and other labels he says are improperly distributing his signature dub recordings. He recently sued videogame company Rockstar and settled out of court for its use of one of his tracks licensed from Greensleeves. Among other claims he makes in the interview: that Blood & Fire Records and Linval Thompson are illegally selling his work, that he is the executor of King Tubby’s estate, and that he has more mixing experience than King Jammy.

Vybz Kartel’s new video, for his latest hit, “Life’s Sweet,” is now available online. According to One876, he has already scored three number-one singles this year, with “Nah Go Nowhere,” “Money Fi Spend,” and “Trailer Load a Money,” which each rose to the top spot on the Stampede Street Chart and the Jamaica Music Countdown charts.

Nowadays, artists have to be hot on the mic–and with the frying pan. At least that’s the idea when Tifa, Timberlee, Konshens, and others face off in a cooking competition. Artists will go head-to-head–or rather, pan-to-pan–at the annual CB Pan Chicken Celebrity Cook Off on Saturday, September 27 at the Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay. Nikki Z walked away with the trophy and the prize for Best Pan Chicken Celebrity in the last celebrity cook off, against Tessanne Chin, Craigy T (TOK), D’Angel, and Mr. Lex. Artists donate their winnings to charity.

Time for a soundclash! The Guinness Sounds of Greatness clash series is underway, with battles between Bass Odyssey, Area Code, Black Kat, Bodyguard, Firesounds, Pieces, Rebel T, and Swatch International. According to the Observer, during initial matches, Area Code and Firesounds were eliminated by Black Kat and Rebel T, respectively, in the first playoffs, while Bodyguard eliminated Bass Odyssey and Pieces took out Swatch International.

Linval Thompson’s vintage 1980s roots productions are featured on Greensleeves’ latest 12” Rulers compilation. Tracks are presented in “extended mix” 12” disco format, including dub and DJ versions. The collection includes Freddie McGregor, Barrington Levy, Eek-A-Mouse, Barry Brown, Al Campbell, and others.

Notable ’70s roots reggae artist Earl Zero blazes through California on tour this month, performing Saturday, October 11 at Pier 23 Café for Club Dread and Wednesday, October 15 with The Scientist at L.A.’s Dub Club.

The upcoming International Caribbean Music Festival (ICM) will take place Sunday, November 16 in Key Biscayne, Florida. The event will feature Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Sean Kingston, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, Etana, Da’Ville, Mr. Vegas, Munga, Konshens, Spragga Benz, and Papa San.

Rhona Fox PR Reggae Chart
1. Serani “No Games” (Daseca)
2. Queen Ifrica “Keep It to Yourself” (Don Corleon)
3. Busy Signal “Wine Like That” (Juke Boxx)
4. Mavado “I’m So Special” (TJ)
5. Morgan Heritage “Nothing to Smile About” (No Doubt)
6. Beenie Man “Yuh Know Fi Wine” (MP3)
7. Terry Linen “Better Man” (Upliftment)
8. Richie Spice “The World Is a Cycle” (Fresh Ear)
9. Lil’ Kim, Wyclef & Mavado “Caribbean Connection” (MP3)
10. DJ Khaled Ft. Rick Ross & Baby Cham “Bullet” (Koch)

Pictured: Vybz Kartel.

Let the Spirit

Slime and Reason just dropped this week, and Rodney “Roots Manuva” Smith is showing his spiritual side on this video, as seen in the numerous shots of the Big Dada rapper standing in an ornate church, as well as the close-ups of his bright eyed, contemplative gazes upwards. There’s a distinct gospel feel to the chorus of this track, with warm, smile-inducing vocal choruses reminiscent of 50-member choirs, so the setting of the video isn’t all that surprising. Then again, Smith closes the whole thing up by proclaiming, “I don’t know what the fuck it means. I’m just singing.”

The Chap “Proper Rock”

The delightfully quirky members of The Chap just can’t stop having fun. Their recently released Ghostly debut, Mega Breakfast, found the London, U.K.-based experimental pop outfit singing about girls, clubbing, and cycling over high-energy guitars and foot-stomping rhythms. Now, the band has gone and compiled a mini-album full of remixes, covers, and a few unreleased tracks entitled Builder’s Brew.

The release sees Tigersushi’s Joakim turning “Ethnic Instrument” into a 4/4 electro banger, while anticon. band Thee More Shallows and Athens, Greece-based producer Electroware also stepped up took on remix duties Not to be missed, of course, is The Chap’s hilariously deadpan version of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”

2009 tour dates are in the pipeline. In the meantime, check this radio edit of the track “Proper Rock,” which lives up to its names.

Builder’s Brew
01 Proper Rock (Radio Edit)
02 Young and Joyful Bandit
03 Un Deux Trois Boxen
04 Nice Face
05 Ethnic Instrument (Joakim Remix)
06 Auto Where To (Electroware Remix)
07 Caution Me (Thee More Shallows Remix)
08 What’s Love Got to Do With It

The Chap – Proper Rock

No Age Plots Tour Dates

No Age has decided to close out the year with two straight months of live shows. Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt will kick off the round of dates in their hometown of Los Angeles, at the famed Smell club, before heading out to Europe to show off the noise-rock jams on this year’s Nouns album (and presumably some other material as well). Maybe Randall will be inspired to make another DVD on this trip. In any case, the beginning of November will find the band making the rounds back in the U.S.

10/03 Los Angeles, CA – The Smell
10/12 Los Angeles, CA – The Echoplex
10/14 Brighton, England – Komedia#
10/15 Liverpool, England – Carling Academy#
10/16 Leeds, England – Irish Centre#
10/17 Dublin, Ireland – Whelans#
10/18 Glasgow, Scotland – Glasgow School of Art#
10/20 London, England – Electric Ballroom#
10/21 Bristol, England – The Fleece#
10/22 Manchester, England – Academy#
10/23 Lisbon, Portugal – ZDB Gallery
10/24 Madrid, Spain – Moby Dick
10/25 Barcelona, Spain – Nitsa
10/27 Ravena, Italy – Bronson
10/28 Rome, Italy – Init
10/29 Milan, Italy – Music Drome
10/30 Lyon, France – Grnd Zero
10/31 Nancy, France – Musiques Volantes @ L’autre Canal
11/01 Paris, France – Point Ephemere
11/04 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
11/05 Groningen, Netherlands – Vera
11/08 New York, NY – SUNY Purchase
11/09 New York, NY – TBA
11/10 Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel
11/11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
11/12 Washington, DC – Black Cat*
11/13 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle Tavern
11/14 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
11/15 Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light
11/16 St. Louis, MO – Gargoyle Club
11/17 Madison, WI – Union South
11/19 Columbus, OH – Wexner Center
11/20 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
11/21 Toronto, ON – Lees Palace
11/22 Montreal, QC – Lambi
11/23 Worcester, MA – The Grind @ Clark University
11/24 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs

* = w/ Diplo, Abe Vigoda
^ = w/ Matt & Kim
# = w/ Los Campesinos

TV: Episode 16 – No Age”

Bitter Bastard: Portland’s 10 Worst Things

All the things you’ve heard about Crapscadia are true! BJ “Bitter” Bastard gets depressed just thinking about it…

The weather
The “artist types” will tell you it’s good for their creativity, but try waking up for the 100th day in a row to bleak skies and a light, annoying drizzle and see if you don’t get all Elliott Smith up in this biatch.

Depression session
If you had SAD and were broke you’d be depressed too. But the culture doesn’t help. There are the saddest commercials for clinical trials on the radio and even places have names like Failing Street and Unthank Park.

Local radio
You can’t even find a classic rock station to listen to on local radio, and the “urban” station only plays six songs (instead of the usual 10 in big markets), three of which are Miley Cyrus-type pop joints. Community broadcast station KBOO can’t save you, and chances are none of your friends’ cars here have CD players.

City slogan
The government officially changed the city nickname from “The City of Roses” to “The City That Works.” Okay, we didn’t even see one rose growing the entire time we were there, but the latter is just laughable. Do you notice all those kids hanging out in coffee places all day because they work one day a week at a record store? No sirs, Portland most definitely does not “work.”

Secretly spendy
“Spendy” is PDX slang for “costly” or “expensive.” Cascadians say it a lot, probably because the cost of things in Portland does match peoples’ paltry salaries. Restaurant meals are on par, price-wise, with San Francisco and the stuff in the fancy food markets is just ludicrous. $7 for a basket of blueberries?

Junkies suck
Is it any wonder that Gus Van Sant made My Own Private Idaho and Drugstore Cowboy after he moved to Portland? There are so many parks here full of heroin-loaded former hipsters skiving off Food Not Bombs handouts and lurching around like zombies. Oh yeah, they like to steal stuff, too.

Don’t techno for an answer
Aside from raves, the electronic music landscape has always been kind of poopy in the Northwest. Techno shows (especially experimental stuff) are poorly attended, and local acts like Let’s Go Outside, Copy, and Strategy are underappreciated compared to the latest art-punk phenoms or DJs playing Justice tracks.

Everyone is white
This town is 78% white, and the remaining Vietnamese, Ethiopian, and Latin communities are so far out on the numbered avenues that they might as well be in a different city. This also explains the pathetic, collegiate honky pathos that sometimes lays like a wet Kleenex over Portland. Sometimes you look around and feel like you’re in a scene from a sci-fi movie…or Reality Bites.

The “scene”
The “scene” in Portland is soo small. No matter how positive everyone makes it seem, it is rife with guttersniping and ill will–everyone has stolen someone else’s gig, girlfriend, or idea for that super-crazy art-folk band. If you move here, you will know everyone in a week, and probably hate them in a month.

Crafty stuff
You know a lot of that horrible stuff they sell at indie craft fairs and on Etsy? Hand-knit arm warmers and felt iPod cozies with whale appliqués–generally the kind of stuff you should not own if you’re over eight years old? Well, Portland is the granddaddy when it comes to people trying to make a living off popsicle sticks, yarn, and a hot-glue gun.

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